Government News

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula on 12 January signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanwha, a major South Korean global company, to formalise a long-term partnership that will support the establishment of Hanwha’s defence manufacturing operations in Victoria. Pakula was at Laverton North to see Hanwha’s LAND 400 Phase 3 vehicle, after the Commonwealth selected Hanwha as one of two final tenderers, along with Rheinmetall in Queensland. “Victoria is the home of Australian manufacturing and we are pleased to be working with Hanwha to maximise opportunities for more high-value jobs to be created in Geelong,” said Pakula. “The range of companies working in defence industries is staggering, and we’re backing them to grow further.” A PWC report commissioned by Hanwha estimated that the LAND 400 Phase 3 manufacturing effort would generate $5.7bn in total economic impacts in Victoria. Hanwha is also looking to build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured resupply vehicles in Geelong, and carry out maintenance and repairs during their…

The team, led by the Linköping University in Sweden, travelled to ANSTO’s Lucas Heights Campus prior to commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic to study how the orientation of the part impacts the additive manufacturing (AM) process. Using ANSTO’s Kowari strain scanner, a scientific, non-destructive technique known as neutron diffraction was used to measure and characterise residual stresses within nickel-based superalloy samples that were produced by selective laser melting (SLM) AM method. Superalloys are an important group of high-temperature metals and are often used in the hottest sections of jet and rocket engines, where temperatures can reach 1,200 to 1400 degrees Celsius. The technique, which allows you to “see inside” a material without damaging it, is used at ANSTO to study materials commonly used in industry. It can reveal information about the structural integrity of pipes, rail and bridge sections, along with many other metal components. The research concluded that the particular direction in…

AVALON 2021 has been placed on the Schedule of Approved Business Events for the new Australian Government Business Events Grants Program. Organisations planning to exhibit may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Government to cover up to 50% of the costs of participation at AVALON 2021. The AVALON Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition is one of the Indo-Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious events and the most comprehensive aviation, aerospace and defence exposition in the Southern Hemisphere. Set to take place from 23-28 November at Avalon Airport in Geelong, Victoria, AVALON 2021 will be a cornerstone event in a year marking the Centenary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The eligible costs, towards which exhibitors may be able to apply for a grant, include: Space hire. Design and manufacture. Travel or accommodation. The full list of eligible expenditure is detailed in the grant opportunity documentation issued by the Australian Government. The Business Events Grants program will open at midday…

The Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) introduced the online Register in March, so local manufacturers and suppliers of crucial products such as personal protective equipment (PPE) could support the national response to the pandemic. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said having stepped up to support domestic production – manufacturers can now take on new markets and sell their products overseas. “By opening the Register to international buyers, Australian companies will be able to utilise the skills and supplies they have developed and keep people in jobs, while helping in the fight against COVID-19 overseas,” Andrews said. “The Register has been very helpful in matching manufacturers and suppliers of COVID-19 related products to areas of demand. “It has enabled businesses, hospitals, GPs and community groups to find suppliers of PPE, including masks and gowns, and hand sanitiser. The Register has fostered impressive collaboration between companies and accelerated the development of such products as ventilators and relief beds.” AMGC Managing Director Jens Goennemann…

Businesses will be able to apply for grants of between $100,000 and $1m to invest in new technology to increase their productivity, create new jobs and drive economic growth. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the MMF Round Two was a key element of the Government’s $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy. “The Morrison Government knows that manufacturing is central to our nation’s economic future and creating jobs for the recovery from COVID-19 and for future generations,” Minister Andrews said. “In these uncertain times, we’re giving manufacturing businesses the confidence and certainty they need to invest in themselves to deliver new and innovative products and services. We want to deliver more products for Australians, and beyond that, we want to open up more opportunities for manufacturers to take on the world with their top-quality products. “Round One of the MMF is already helping manufacturers to become more competitive and productive, with many already creating new jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The big change between Round One and Round Two is that this time we…

Under the program, targeted advice and guidance is available to help small businesses navigate the economic challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 market changes. Through a panel of experienced Business Mentors, businesses can get help in the specific areas of business planning, strategy development and deployment, market transformation and supply chain diversification. Importantly, having been in lockdown for some months, this business recovery program is funded by the Victorian government and is available at no cost to the participating business. BizAdviser, an association of consulting professionals, is an approved Business Mentor provider under the program. BizAdviser Principal Mal Clark said: “With around 90 years combined executive management experience in private industry and over 30 years collective experience supporting SMEs, our BizAdviser mentors have helped many businesses to grow and prosper across a broad spectrum of industries”. The program’s aim is to mitigate business risks and financial exposure. Where possible it will connect to other government support and local professional services. Through the program, eligible business owners can receive up to…

The Early Adopter Program (EAP) aims to accelerate technology adoption among SMEs in a range of industries, including manufacturing, supply chain, mining, energy and construction. The program provides technologies that are easily adoptable, translatable and reasonably priced to deliver fast ROI. The first of this tech being made available to SMEs is Wildcat. Developed by CSIRO’s Data61, the technology enables ground robots and drones to autonomously map and navigate complex environments, such as mines. Wildcat can help boost safety and productivity for companies in mining, agriculture and defence that rely on robots to navigate complex and unstructured environments where there are no GPS systems or pre-existing maps. It is being trialled by commercial partners in Australia including CSIRO spin-out Emesent, BIA5, AutoMap, Stealth Technologies, as well as GeoSLAM in the UK. It is part of a push by CSIRO’s Data61 to make low-cost, easily adoptable technologies available for SMEs in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, supply chain, mining, energy and construction, to…

The new Strategy will aim to drive the state’s contribution to the Australian Space Agency goal of tripling the size of the nation’s domestic space industry to $12bn by 2030, helping to create thousands of jobs. South Australia will focus its activities in space industry and research to propel the state’s growth in the sector and contribute to the national agenda. Launching the strategy, Premier Steven Marshall made it clear that South Australia’s space sector will be critical in the state’s economic recovery from the global coronavirus pandemic. “South Australia is unequivocally the home of space and this strategy sets a framework for South Australia to reach for the stars,” said Marshall. “Businesses in the space sector will be creating thousands of job opportunities for South Australians over the next decade which is great for our economy. “Our vision for growth is simple – by 2030, South Australia will be designing, manufacturing, launching, and operating SmallSats (small satellites) to deliver actionable, space-derived intelligence for sovereign Australian missions – creating hundreds of jobs in the process. “Space is…

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Demonstrator Feasibility grants will allow businesses and researchers to look into whether their projects are viable – showcasing local space capabilities on the global stage. “Investing in space is investing in our future,” said Andrews. “By backing Aussie businesses to be part of global space supply chains we can grow our economy and create new jobs. These grants will provide opportunities for businesses and researchers to scope out the feasibility of projects which have the potential to operate or support operations in space, including activities related to NASA’s Moon to Mars endeavours. “Space isn’t just about launch. Space technology can improve our lives, from assisting in the delivery of remote rural medicine, helping us stay connected with loved ones across the world and assisting farmers to manage their land through advancements in robotics. We’re also focused on building…

The newly renamed Industry Innovation and Science Australia w(IISA) – previously known as Innovation and Science Australia – will advise the Government on innovation, research and science matters. DuluxGroup CEO Patrick Houlihan and Woodside Energy’s Lauren Stafford have both been appointed to the Board for three years. Fintech and consumer rights expert Scott Farrell, space technology entrepreneur Dr Alex Grant and ag-tech innovator Sarah Nolet have been appointed for two years. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the new appointments would bolster industry experience within the organisation, particularly as it helps deliver the Government’s $1.5bn Modern Manufacturing Strategy. “As a Government we are getting the economic conditions right and backing our manufacturers to become more competitive, more resilient and to scale up,” Minister Andrews said. “But it is industry that will chart the course of our recovery and make this Strategy stick for generations to come. We know it is industry, not governments, that create jobs, so it’s essential that…

The Government recently announced that it will invest $1.2bn to support Australian businesses to employ 100,000 new apprentices or trainees as part of Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan. According to Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, the Government must set a target to achieve much-needed improvements in the gender composition of Australia’s trades. “In a post COVID-19 world, irrespective of how much funding the Federal Government invests in training and apprenticeships, Australia’s economy will not recover unless we maintain our industrial, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors,” said Crittenden. “The only way to do this is to broaden our labour pool by attracting women into trades such as welding. We need a proactive, targeted approach that engages and recruits women into the trades, new and innovative trade training programs designed specifically for women, and measurable gender diversity targets set by the Federal Government. “In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has revealed the budget will be in the red by $184.5 billion in 2020-2021, marking the largest deficit since World…

Rheinmetall will use the MILVEHCOE facility to build and assemble the majority of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, which are being delivered to the Australian Army under the $5bn LAND 400 Phase 2 project. The facility will also be used to conduct integration, support and heavy grade repair for the logistics trucks and modules being delivered under the LAND 121 Phase 3B and 5B projects. Morrison said the new defence industry facility in Redbank is part of the Economic Recovery Plan to create jobs as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are committed to keeping Australians safe, while protecting the nation’s interests in a rapidly changing global environment,” said Morrison. “This week’s budget has seen the Federal Government bring forward $1bn worth of capability projects and reservist days to support jobs, the Australian defence industry and the wider economy. “This Queensland centre will be where some of the most advanced armoured vehicles in the world will be produced, by Australian workers.…

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new partnership with Boeing Australia means more high-skilled jobs, local supply opportunities and defence industry stimulus, as Queensland continues its recovery efforts from the COVID-19 downturn. The unmanned aircraft is Boeing’s first military aircraft to be designed and developed outside the US, and will use artificial intelligence to extend the capabilities of manned and unmanned platforms. The first aircraft prototype, called the Loyal Wingman, was unveiled with the Royal Australian Air Force in May this year. “The creation of additional new aerospace capability could see unmanned defence aircraft produced here by the middle of the decade, with prototype testing and certification taking place before that,” said Palaszczuk. “Our investment in this advanced manufacturing project will provide critical skills for suppliers, academia and Boeing, and culminate in Queensland becoming the primary final assembly facility for the Boeing Airpower Teaming System, conditional on…